► This thesis seeks to contribute to the understanding of conflict intervention in protracted violent conflicts by studying the activities of civil society actors in regard…
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▼ This thesis seeks to contribute to the understanding of conflict intervention in protracted violent conflicts by studying the activities of civil society actors in regard to the conflicts in what was Yugoslavia until 1991. A very broad understanding of ‘intervention’ is used for this purpose that includes all kinds of activities that relate to the conflicts. Based on a survey of activities in the period between 1990 and 2002, a framework for categorising and describing these interventions is applied according to basic functions in four ‘grand strategies’ of ‘peace-making’, ‘peace-keeping’, ‘peacebuilding’, and ‘information, support, protest and advocacy’, with a total list of about 230 instruments of conflict intervention identified. The study concludes that civil society actors played three different basic roles: They complemented the work of state actors, they were the avant-garde for approaches, strategies and methods that later became ‘mainstream’ in conflict intervention, and in some cases, they were able to control or correct actions by governments through advocacy or direct action. The development of instruments of civil conflict transformation received a massive boost through this engagement in the 1990s. The study supports the position taken recently by some researchers making comparative studies of cases of conflict intervention regarding the limited role played by dialogue and reconciliation work in regard to dealing with the overall conflicts: In spite of ‘reconciliation’ and inter-ethnic cooperation being at the core of the vast majority of all projects and programmes undertaken in the area, indicators of real impact regarding an overall positive change in society and prevention of future violence seem to be rather weak. The study further observes that there was a social movement developed relating to former Yugoslavia in many Western countries that in a hitherto unknown way combined traditional methods of protest and advocacy with concrete work in the field.

Schweitzer, C. (2009). Strategies of intervention in protracted violent conflicts by civil society actors : the example of interventions in the violent conflicts in the area of former Yugoslavia. (Doctoral Dissertation). Coventry University. Retrieved from http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/f10df296-dcc0-062b-8ba7-85d3f28687e7/1 ; http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.628882

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Schweitzer, C. “Strategies of intervention in protracted violent conflicts by civil society actors : the example of interventions in the violent conflicts in the area of former Yugoslavia.” 2009. Doctoral Dissertation, Coventry University. Accessed January 21, 2019.
http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/f10df296-dcc0-062b-8ba7-85d3f28687e7/1 ; http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.628882.

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

Schweitzer, C. “Strategies of intervention in protracted violent conflicts by civil society actors : the example of interventions in the violent conflicts in the area of former Yugoslavia.” 2009. Web. 21 Jan 2019.

Vancouver:

Schweitzer C. Strategies of intervention in protracted violent conflicts by civil society actors : the example of interventions in the violent conflicts in the area of former Yugoslavia. [Internet] [Doctoral dissertation]. Coventry University; 2009. [cited 2019 Jan 21].
Available from: http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/f10df296-dcc0-062b-8ba7-85d3f28687e7/1 ; http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.628882.

Council of Science Editors:

Schweitzer C. Strategies of intervention in protracted violent conflicts by civil society actors : the example of interventions in the violent conflicts in the area of former Yugoslavia. [Doctoral Dissertation]. Coventry University; 2009. Available from: http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/f10df296-dcc0-062b-8ba7-85d3f28687e7/1 ; http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.628882

Coventry University

92.
Berkeley, N.The role of mature sectors in promoting regional economic development in the West Midlands.

► This thesis brings together a coherent and inter-linked body of research published between 2000 and 2009 on clothing manufacturing; a sector that could be labelled…
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▼ This thesis brings together a coherent and inter-linked body of research published between 2000 and 2009 on clothing manufacturing; a sector that could be labelled ‘mature’ in its phase of economic development in Western economies. It investigates why in recent decades, despite notable early resilience the clothing industry within the West Midlands Region in the UK has declined markedly, placing this decline in the context of the picture nationally and internationally. It provides an in-depth analysis of the how the sector is placed to adapt, reverse decline and enhance its competitiveness, conceptualising firm behaviour in respect of attitudes to growth and change. Finally, it prescribes strategies and actions for the sustainability of such mature manufacturing sectors within modern growth-led economies. In doing so it recognises the crucial role played by government institutions at all scales in facilitating this process.

Berkeley, N. (2011). The role of mature sectors in promoting regional economic development in the West Midlands. (Doctoral Dissertation). Coventry University. Retrieved from http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/33d24b15-8f7c-49bf-ad95-75d2c7d3e8f9/1 ; http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.628927

Berkeley N. The role of mature sectors in promoting regional economic development in the West Midlands. [Doctoral Dissertation]. Coventry University; 2011. Available from: http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/33d24b15-8f7c-49bf-ad95-75d2c7d3e8f9/1 ; http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.628927

► In Libya salinization of land and ground water is a key problem. A. saligna is one species that offers potential for growth under these conditions.…
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▼ In Libya salinization of land and ground water is a key problem. A. saligna is one species that offers potential for growth under these conditions. Experiments were undertaken to accelerate the germination of Acacia seeds, and various pre-treatment methods were assayed. Boiling water treatment, mechanical scarification and acid improved germination and germination rate. Sowing A. saligna seeds at 30 mm depth gave greatest seedling growth from large and medium seeds whereas 20 mm was more suitable for small seeds. This study aimed to improve the establishment of Acacia saligna irrigated with saline water, plants were grown for seven weeks under greenhouse or field conditions in (Libya) either sand or soil salinized with varying applications of NaCl. Irrigation with NaCl significantly decreased plant survival and growth and concentration of Ca, Na, K, Fe and P ions in plants with 0.5 M or 1.0 M NaCl. The experiments were repeated using a naturally occurring soil amendment called ‘Zander’. Seeds of A. saligna were grown for seven weeks in both greenhouse and field trials as before but with the addition of Zander and NaCl. Zander improved plant survival and growth with salinity and increased the elements in plants (Ca, Na, K, Fe and P). Field experiments were conducted to assess the effects of saline irrigation with 1.0 M NaCl and extra water added to 0% or 10% Zander on survival and growth, consequently, seedling growth significantly decreased with increase in soil salinity. Survival and growth increased with increase in extra water. The additional irrigation water caused an increase in the uptake of Ca++ and increased the Ca++/Na+ and K+/Na+ ratio. Zander did not appear to reduce net uptake of Na+ and its transport to shoot tissues. Mg++, P, K+ and Ca++ content significantly decreased in plants in response to salinity. Possible mechanisms to avoid Na+ toxicity in A. saligna in response to salinity included increasing the supply of Ca++. Extra Ca++ applied into the medium with and without salt increased survival and growth even in the absence of Zander. Calcium increased uptake of Ca++ and increased Ca++/Na+ and K+/Na+ ratio.

► This document presents five published journal articles all of which investigate the safety and effectiveness of interventions for aggression in mental health nursing. Early work…
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▼ This document presents five published journal articles all of which investigate the safety and effectiveness of interventions for aggression in mental health nursing. Early work focuses upon studies of the safety and effectiveness of interventions in the clinical setting. In the first article the research project examined the safety and effectiveness of a course of training in ‗control and restraint‘ (C&R) at a medium secure mental health unit. Mixed findings are reported, with some aspects of the study showing an increase in injuries whilst the overall outcome showed no significant change. The second article reports the pattern of incidents, and staff interventions, over a three year period in a different medium secure unit. A low threshold of reporting was encouraged and substantial numbers of incidents are described. Later work narrows the focus of the study onto a specific area of the safety of physical interventions for aggression: sudden death related to restraint. A published review of the literature on ‗positional asphyxia‘ is presented, discussing the key literature and developing the concept of ‗positional asphyxia.‘ Two research publications are also presented. In the first article the effect of body position on the rate of recovery from exercise is studied using pulse oximetry as a proxy measure of respiration. Equivocal results are reported. The second study shows a development of the methodology, following a similar design but using computer assisted pneumotachography to provide direct measurement of lung function. A clear pattern is demonstrated showing significant changes in lung function in prone restraint positions where the participant is flexed and/or body weight is applied. 4 The development of the concept of positional asphyxia and the contribution of the articles, academic and professional, is discussed. It is suggested that positional asphyxia should be viewed as one factor in a multi-factorial model of risk. The body of work is presented as having clear implications for practice. Early work examining the pattern of incidents in clinical settings has relevance to staff training, particularly in terms of a clearer understanding of the potential risks which need to be addressed by training. Later work has considerable implication for both policy and training by identifying those restraint positions which present less risk to the restrained person. Directions for future research are discussed.

► The thesis examines court sentencing decisions in theft cases within the context of a proportionality-based sentencing framework. Whilst relatively little is known of the magistrates’…
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▼ The thesis examines court sentencing decisions in theft cases within the context of a proportionality-based sentencing framework. Whilst relatively little is known of the magistrates’ court and Crown Court interpretations of proportionality, such as the impact that various aggravating and mitigating factors may have on the sentencing decision, the thesis examines those factors (relating to both the offence and the offender) that appear to have the greatest impact on the sentencing decision. Additionally, it was accepted here that the courts may rely (to some extent) on a number of other sentencing justifications, particularly crime prevention through rehabilitation, deterrence and incapacitation. The thesis finds that only a small number of factors individually appear to affect the sentencing decision. In other cases, a number of factors work together to increase the seriousness of the offence and consequently inform the sentencing decision. The thesis also finds that whilst proportionality considerations may dominate the sentencing decisions in some cases, in others the courts appear to have high regard to the need to prevent crime, particularly where an offender has a demonstrated pattern of offending due to a drug addiction. Whilst in some cases these crime reduction aims may be used within the confines of proportionality, the courts’ desire to prevent crime may eclipse proportionality constraints, ultimately leading to an apparently disproportionate sentence.

► Riverine physical habitats and habitat utilization by fish have often been studied independently. Varying flows modify habitat composition and connectivity within a stream but its…
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▼ Riverine physical habitats and habitat utilization by fish have often been studied independently. Varying flows modify habitat composition and connectivity within a stream but its influence on habitat use is not well understood. This study examined brown trout (Salmo trutta) and bullhead (Cottus gobio) utilization of physical habitats that vary with flow in terms of size and type, persistence or duration, and frequency of change from one state to another, by comparing groundwater-dominated sites on the River Tern (Shropshire) with surface runoff-dominated lowland, riffle-pool sites on the Dowles Brook (Worcestershire). Mesohabitat surveys carried out at two-month intervals on a groundwater-dominated stream and on a surface runoff-influenced stream showed differences in habitat composition and diversity between the two types of rivers. The temporal variability in mesohabitat composition was also shown to differ between the two flow regime types. In the groundwater-influenced stream, mesohabitat composition hardly varied between flows whereas in the flashy stream it varied to a great extent with discharge. Habitat suitability curves for brown trout and bullhead were constructed to predict the potential location of the fish according to flow. The resulting prediction maps were tested in the field during fish surveys using direct underwater observation (snorkelling). Under the groundwater-influenced flow regime brown trout displayed a constant pattern of mesohabitat use over flows. Mesohabitats with non-varying characteristics over flows and with permanent features such as large woody debris, macrophytes or any feature providing shelter and food were favoured. Biological processes, such as hierarchy, life cycle and life stage appeared to play a key role in determining fish habitat use and to a greater extent than physical processes in these streams. Bullhead observations in the flashy river showed that mesohabitat use varied with flow but that some mesohabitats were always favoured in the stream. Pools and glides were the most commonly used mesohabitat, due to their stability over flows and their role as shelter from harsh hydraulic conditions and as food retention zones. The presence of cobbles was also found to be determinant in bullhead choice of habitat. In this flashy environment, physical processes such as flow and depth and velocity conditions appeared to be a more decisive factor in bullhead strategy of habitat use than biological processes. This research shows that: 1. Though differences in habitat use strategies between the two flow regimes can in part be attributed to differing ecology between the species, flow variability affects fish behaviour. 2. A stable flow regime allows biological processes to be the main driving force in determining fishbehaviour and location. A highly variable environment requires fish to develop behaviour strategies in response to variations in hydraulic conditions, such as depth and velocity, which constitute the key factor in determining fish location.

► A field study of the feasibility and the performance of a sustainable drainage technique combined with a renewable energy device to provide heating in a…
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▼ A field study of the feasibility and the performance of a sustainable drainage technique combined with a renewable energy device to provide heating in a domestic setting was carried out from March 2008 to November 2010 to acquire practical data about the system’s operation. Among all the sustainable drainage techniques, permeable pavement system (PPS) was selected to be applied in this project since this particular technique can be used for driveways and car-parking hard standings, but more specially they can be designed as a tanked system whereby an impermeable membrane is installed at the bottom of the tank in order to hold the rainwater collected as runoff from hard areas and roofs before releasing it in a controlled manner. The renewable energy device applied in this study is a ground source heat pump system (GSHP), which has been found in previous studies to provide a better performance when installed in wet conditions. Based on this, the PPS and the GSHP with horizontal ground heat exchanger (GHE) were integrated in a 350mm deep reservoir under ‘real life’ conditins. The combined system operated in heating mode in a family–sized, three bedrooms detached EcoHouse at the Building Research Establishment Innovation Park, Watford, UK. Monitoring the combined system included taking measurements of the temperature of the conditioned space, the ground around the PPS/GSHP system, and of the ambient air every 10 minutes. Assessing the performance of the PPS/GSHP system involved investigating the effect of extracting heat via the GHE on the ground temperature, the impact of the PPS/GSHP on the thermal profile of the air above the surface of the reservoir, and computing the PPS/GSHP coefficient of performance (CoP). The thesis includes information about the design of the PPS/GSHP system including the structure of the sub-base, types and size of the used aggregate and stone, the depth of the excavated reservoir amongst others, also the technical problems that materialized, largely due to the fact that the PPS/GSHP was installed and operating under real-life circumstances. Results obtained from the study provided evidence for the workability of the combined system in regards of stormwater management and of providing heat to the EcoHouse. However, monitoring the rainwater stored in the reservoir showed that, due to leakage, the top part of the buried coil was not covered with water. The monitoring also revealed that the rainwater surrounding parts of the coil was, in severe weather, frozen. Moreover, highly significant correlations (p<0.01) were calculated for the ambient air and the ground temperature relationships with the CoP. All of these factors resulted in a 1.8 coefficient of performance being obtained. This low figure was related to the shallow depth of the reservoir since it became clear that its ground temperature was greatly influenced by the ambient air temperature. The study also revealed that the evaporation process was prevented from occurring due to the Inbitex™ composite layer, as a result there was no…

► Low Back Pain (LBP) is a condition that most people experience at least once in their lifetime and for which many will seek physiotherapeutic intervention.…
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▼ Low Back Pain (LBP) is a condition that most people experience at least once in their lifetime and for which many will seek physiotherapeutic intervention. Recently published and internationally recognised clinical guidelines for the management of LBP recommend the use of spinal manual and manipulative therapy techniques alongside exercise, advice, education and pharmaceutical therapies, particularly in the early stages. Other areas of development in the last decade include classification systems, clinical prediction rules (CPR’s), patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS’s) and minimum clinically important difference (MCID) thresholds. Additionally, sympathetic nervous system (SNS) measures of treatment responses are now recognised as providing quantifiable indicators of peripheral, spinal and central effects of manual therapy interventions although research in the lumbar spine is very limited with none providing data on a patient population. The aims of the study were; to determine the reliability and stability of the Biopac System in recording skin conductance (SC) activity levels and calculate the smallest real difference (SRD) statistic; to generate data on the magnitude of SC response to two commonly utilised treatments for LBP; and to observe the changes in a clinical population receiving guideline-endorsed physiotherapy treatment for the management of acute and sub-acute LBP. Furthermore, clinical data analysis sought to identify correlations of SC measures to PROM’s and evaluate the feasibility of using SC responses as a predictive tool for therapeutic outcome. The ability of the Biopac System to reliably record SNS activity was established by using SC measurements with 12 participants on two occasions, one-week apart. Data was recorded within a natural, non-laboratory setting. Results established that SC measurements could be reliably recorded between data sessions with a measurement variability of; ICC=0.99 (p<0.005) with an SRD value of 0.315 μmho’s (4.633%). In conclusion, any SC change above the SRD could be regarded as an SNS change that is independent of any measurement error or variability thus representing a real change ascribable to the intervention under investigation. The pre-clinical investigation compared the magnitude of SC response (SCR) of two, independently administered, specific MT techniques, applied, after randomisation, to the Lumbar 4/5 segment of 50 asymptomatic healthy volunteers. Treatments included; a rotatory lumbar manipulation technique or a repeated McKenzie extension in lying exercise. Findings revealed that both techniques produced statistically significant changes in SNS activity in the lower limbs (> SRD) with manipulative technique SCR’s (76%) that were twice the size of the McKenzie repeated extension in lying exercise (EIL) technique (35.7%)( p=0.0005). Only the manipulation technique had a lasting effect that was carried into the final rest period (p=0.012) but the SNS response was not a side-specific phenomenon (p= 0.76). The final clinical study recruited 60 acute and…

▼ To prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, sexually active individuals should practice safer sex (World Health Organisation 2008). This is important across the lifespan (Nusbaum and Rosenfeld 2004). But older and heterosexual populations are typically overlooked in safer sex interventions (Bodley-Tickell et al. 2008; Bowleg 2011). The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has been used to predict behaviour, and develop safer sex interventions (Fishbein and Ajzen 2010). But a criticism of the TPB is that it fails to recognise the emotional aspect of safer sex (Norton et al., 2005). Extending the TPB to include affective attitudes has enhanced the effectiveness of safer sex interventions (Ferrer et al. 2011). Furthermore, safer sex typically involves a series of five condom-related behaviours; accessing, carrying, negotiating, using and disposing (Moore et al. 2006). Yet most interventions promote only one condom-related behaviour. In addition, the internet is now being used more as a platform for delivering interventions (Kraft and Yardley 2009). For safer sex interventions, online delivery may help reduce the embarrassment individuals often report when discussing sexual health (Qulliam 2011). Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to develop and evaluate an online safer sex intervention to promote performance of multiple condom-related behaviours in a broad population. A series of studies were conducted in order to develop the intervention. Study 1, an online elicitation study with 26 individuals, used an extended TPB framework to explore attitudinal, normative and control beliefs toward performing five condom-related behaviours. Findings suggested that individuals hold a range of attitudinal, normative and control beliefs toward performing these condom-related behaviours. Study 2, an online questionnaire study with 363 individuals identified beliefs and behaviours for intervention target. Findings suggested that three condom-related behaviours should be promoted; carrying, negotiating and using. In addition, analysis showed that affective and moral norm beliefs were most predictive of intention to perform these three condom-related behaviours, and should be the intervention targets. Study 3 was an online intervention with 439 individuals. Individuals were randomised to one of three conditions; control message, positively- or negatively-framed persuasive message. TPB and self-report behaviour measures were taken pre-, immediately post-intervention and three months later. Findings demonstrated that performance of condom-related behaviours did not significantly increase from participation in the intervention. However, intention to carry and use condoms increased over time regardless of intervention condition in all populations sampled. Overall, findings from this thesis support the development of safer sex interventions that promote multiple condom-related behaviours in a broad population. However, findings suggested that persuasive messages targeting psychological constructs of the TPB do not…

► The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations were introduced in England and Wales in 2006, seeking to prohibit age discrimination in employment and vocational training. This thesis…
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▼ The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations were introduced in England and Wales in 2006, seeking to prohibit age discrimination in employment and vocational training. This thesis assesses whether the legislation adopted is an effective mechanism by which to address age discrimination in the workplace and achieve the dual but contradictory objectives of the European Union Framework Directive on Equal Treatment of achieving equal treatment between age cohorts whilst encouraging the active participation of older citizens in the workplace. The thesis sheds light on this hitherto unregulated suspect ground of discrimination by means of a quantitative and qualitative analysis of all employment tribunal judgments which relate to an age discrimination claim over a three and a half year period. This study shows that very few claimants were successful if their claim of age discrimination was considered by a tribunal and there was considerable inconsistency of implementation and interpretation of the legislation by individual tribunals. Employers have quickly developed defences against claims of age discrimination in order to maintain their freedom to contract and the imbalance between the two parties was particularly noticeable with claimant credibility often under scrutiny – a process claimants appeared unprepared for. Regional discrepancies were found in terms of success rates and compensation awards. A gender award gap was found in both overall compensation and injury to feelings awards, with women given smaller awards than men, whilst younger workers were given smaller awards than older workers. Legal representation made a substantial difference to success rates and compensation awards, but the majority of awards were low and many would not have covered legal costs. The low compensation awards do not provide an effective deterrent, as required by the Article 17 of the Directive. The legislation is particularly ineffective for those who claimed they had suffered multiple discrimination. Although an important first step in regulating ageist behaviour, the Regulations and the subsequent Equality Act 2010 will be unlikely to achieve the aims of the Directive as they provide little incentive for claimants to undertake the stressful process of making a claim under the legislation, which relies upon individual fault-finding.

▼ The rise of business-oriented and commercial applications for Grid computing environments has recently gathered pace. Grid computing traditionally has been linked with scientific environments, where heterogeneous resources provided by Grid systems and infrastructures were employed for carrying out computationally-intensive and data-intensive scientific experiments or applications that may have not been possible before. The natural progression is that business-oriented applications will look to build on this success and utilise the large number of heterogeneous Grid resources including computational resources such as CPUs and memory and storage resources such as disk space, potentially available. The success of introducing these applications into the mainstream is directly related to whether service providers can deliver a level of Quality of Service (QoS) to a consumer and the ability of the consumer to request high-level QoS such as the numbers of CPUs required or the RAM required. QoS refers to the guidelines and requirements requested by a user/consumer from the service providers and resources. The communication and agreement establishment processes between user and provider must be defined clearly to accommodate a new type of user where knowledge of the underlying infrastructure cannot be assumed. QoS parameters have generally been defined at the Grid resource level using low level definitions. This tailors to specific applications and models related to scientific domains where brokering, scheduling and QoS delivery is designed for specific applications within specific domains. This thesis presents a flexible model for high-level QoS requests. Business Grid Quality of Service (BGQoS) is introduced for business-oriented and commercial Grid applications which may wish to make use of the resources made available by Grid system environments. BGQoS allows GRCs (Grid Resource Consumers) to specify varying types of high-level QoS requirements which are delivered via querying up-to-date resource information, matchmaking and monitoring operations. Moreover, we present dynamically calculated metrics for measuring QoS such as reliability, increasing the accuracy of meeting the GRC’s requirements. On the other hand GRPs (Grid Resource Provider) are also capable of advertising their resources, their capabilities, their usage policies and availability both locally and globally. This leads to a flexible model that could be carried across domains without altering the core operations and which could easily be expanded in order to accommodate different types of GRC, resources and applications.

► The objective of this study is to investigate the concept of trustworthiness and then examine its effect within the venue of the hotel sector. Given…
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▼ The objective of this study is to investigate the concept of trustworthiness and then examine its effect within the venue of the hotel sector. Given trustworthiness accepted importance to relationship marketing, there appears to be a failure to develop a coherent framework to indicate trustworthiness. This is a gap that this thesis addresses and by doing so, it will extend the body of knowledge by contributing to our understanding of the construct and its determinants. The main hypothesis in this thesis is identifying the determinants of trustworthiness with an outcome as part of a causal model. Within the proposed model, the determinants; consistency, competence, integrity, benevolence, value alignment and communication are assumed to have a positive impact on trustworthiness. In turn, trustworthiness has a positive impact on both attitudinal loyalty and behavioural loyalty, the two types of loyalty are proposed as the model outcome, whereas the previous six determinants are proposed as antecedents of trustworthiness. In order to test the proposed hypotheses, a new measurement scale was developed in order to evaluate trustworthiness with its determinants and outcome, the model was tested within the hotel sector in Jordan where over 526 respondents took part in the main survey collection, 60 respondents participated in the pilot study along with 11 interviewees. The results from the empirical study revealed that the hypothesised model is valid and significant, in which all the antecedents of trustworthiness had a significant loading as well as the model corollaries. These loadings vary in its significance and strength; this created a clearer picture on the expected impact of each of these determinants once the model being applied within service organisations.

► This research study, funded by the Leverhulme Trust as part of the CURLIEW project, explored how learners understand, construct, express, and manage identity when virtual…
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▼ This research study, funded by the Leverhulme Trust as part of the CURLIEW project, explored how learners understand, construct, express, and manage identity when virtual worlds are utilized in higher education and how the virtual world itself might impact on concepts of identity. In particular, the study focused on aspects of learner identity from the physical world and learner identity in virtual worlds, the latter being a ‘translation’ of physical identity markers onto the avatar. The research builds on the experiences of 75 student participants, who employed virtual worlds as learning environments. A narrative research approach was applied to thematically analyze interview, focus group, and observational data, collected from two educational contexts at two British universities. Three themes emerged from the analysis and interpretation of these data, which are presented as narratives of Pursuit, Embodiment, and Resistance. The study makes two main contributions to existing knowledge on learning in virtual environments: firstly, it reveals that virtual worlds are ‘threshold concepts’, in which students need to be able to align their learner identities with the utilization of virtual worlds to integrate them successfully in their learning. Secondly, the study develops a five-dimensional typology of the ways in which students engage and manage identity directly in the virtual world through their avatars. This typology includes: dislocated avatars, representative avatars, avatars as toys and tools, avatars as extensions of self, and avatars as identity extensions. The study demonstrates that engagement with virtual worlds and avatars in the educational context can provide a valuable opportunity to foster critical thinking, if learner identities are given a central place in course design and delivery. Then, virtual world learning can enable students and tutors to reflect critically on what shapes, influences, and constrains identity in virtual worlds, in the physical world, in higher education, and beyond.

► This research examines the introduction of e-performance assessment systems in governmental organizations in the United Arab Emirates. The research also examines the influence of cultural…
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▼ This research examines the introduction of e-performance assessment systems in governmental organizations in the United Arab Emirates. The research also examines the influence of cultural forces in accepting the implementation of technology systems that deal with assessment and evaluation of government employees to facilitate the transitional process from manual to e-performance assessment. The methodology used in this research can be described as follows: first a descriptive method to explain the main management theories underlying employee e-performance, followed by an illustration of the concept of electronic tools, based on what has been written in the relevant literature, then conducting a pilot study. A pilot study was made to reduce uncertainty in survey questions, increase clarity, enhance questionnaire validity, and expand on factors that might affect data analysis, improve research design, and confirm the feasibility of this research study. The conceptual model of this study is determined on the based of literature analysis, the pilot study, and the empirical collection of data. A model for a performance appraisal assessment system is proposed, which shows a statistical significance between performance management, e-performance management, performance assessment, e-performance assessment, and performance standards with both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. This study finds that there are numerous factors shapes ethics and norms at the workplace. This study suggests that the United Arab Emirates enjoys highly structured governmental organizations. This primarily results from the naturally inherited characteristics of being a high-context society. The major findings of this research aim to contribute to available literature, as there is currently a distinct shortage of relevant academic work targeting the issue of governmental e-performance systems. Similarly no papers concerning e-performance in a UAE context actually existed prior to this investigation. Therefore, much of the available literature was found to be only semi-relevant.

► Under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979 in Cambodia, 1.7 million people died from starvation, overwork, torture, and murder. While five senior…
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▼ Under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979 in Cambodia, 1.7 million people died from starvation, overwork, torture, and murder. While five senior leaders are on trial for these crimes at the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia, hundreds of lower level perpetrators live amongst their victims today. This thesis examines how rural Cambodians (including victims, perpetrators, and bystanders) are coexisting after the trauma of the Khmer Rouge years, and the decades of civil war before and after. In this qualitative research study, 134 semi-structured interviews were conducted with rural villagers, government officials, and peacebuilding practitioners. Cambodian culture is characterized by conflict avoidance, and reliance on family networks, hierarchy, and patronage. Buddhism is a strong cultural influence as well. These characteristics, as well as the lack of trust resulting from the Khmer Rouge years, provided important context for this analysis of Cambodian social recovery. Research on the processes of coexistence and reconciliation inform this study (Bloomfield 2006; Huyse 2003; Kriesberg 2001; Lederach 1997; Rigby 2001). However, few studies have been done that examine community reconciliation in Cambodia (Etcheson 2005b). This thesis examines the processes of reconciliation, including interfering and facilitating factors. Processes such as building relationships and trust, and developing empathy and compassion are explored. Cambodians’ views of apologies, revenge, forgiveness, and other key concepts are reviewed. Models of coexistence, acceptance, perpetrator coping strategies, and a victim decision-making tree are presented to assist in the analysis of the data. These models provide a theoretical framework for the understanding of the situation of coexistence and reconciliation in Cambodia. The thesis suggests that Cambodians are currently living in various stages of coexistence (surface, shallow, and moderate) and have not yet approached a condition of deep reconciliation. Practical applications of the findings are suggested.

► The pervious pavement system has been identified as an effective source control device capable of removing urban stormwater pollution by trapping pollutants within the system…
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▼ The pervious pavement system has been identified as an effective source control device capable of removing urban stormwater pollution by trapping pollutants within the system and biodegradation. Recent studies have further demonstrated that the pervious pavement system could be used as a source of renewable energy capable of reducing household energy bill by about 80%. In view of ever increasing demand for water and the continued reduction in available fresh water resources in the world, stormwater has been recognized as a potential valuable source of water which could be harnessed. The overall aim of this multi disciplinary research was to evaluate the suitability of a modified pervious pavement system (PPS) for water harvesting and re-use, particularly focussing on potential third world applications and taking advantage of the latest developments in materials that are available for such applications. The aim was a holistic one in which water re-use was examined in terms of both the potential advantages from an irrigation point of view without ignoring the very important public health concerns that are often of concern when water is stored in circumstances which do not fit the normally used criteria for potable supplies. The results of this study confirmed the pollution control capability of the porous pavement system as earlier determined by previous studies. Also, a novel experimental rig was designed to reproducibly create very high and realistic rainfall events over model pavement structures. Furthermore, the performance of a new geotextile, Inbitex Composite® in the pervious pavement system was determined for the first time. Furthermore, this study also tested for the first time, the performance of a pervious pavement system modified by the incorporation of Inbitex Composite® geotextile with slits and made prescriptions as to how this new geotextile could be best installed in a modified pervious pavement system in order to achieve high infiltration without compromising pollution control. This study tested the practical use of the pervious pavement system for water harvesting and storage for reuse in irrigation. In order to achieve this, the author took what could be considered as a holistic approach to water quality issues and determined the chemical, electrochemical and microbiological quality of water stored in the system as well as investigated the public health concern of the potential of pathogenic organisms in waters stored in unconventional water storage system as the pervious pavement system. It also determined that the pervious pavement system have the capability to recycle water with physical, chemical and microbiological qualities that will meet international standards for irrigation and that the system does not offer a conducive environment for potential pathogenic organisms if contamination incident occurs from adjoining areas. This study also became the first to practically relate Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) to agricultural benefit by demonstrating how a SUDS device (pervious pavement…

► Security methods based on biometrics have been gaining importance increasingly in the last few years due to recent advances in biometrics technology and its reliability…
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▼ Security methods based on biometrics have been gaining importance increasingly in the last few years due to recent advances in biometrics technology and its reliability and efficiency in real world applications. Also, several major security disasters that occurred in the last decade have given a new momentum to this research area. The successful development of biometric security applications cannot only minimise such threats but may also help in preventing them from happening on a global scale. Biometric security methods take into account humans’ unique physical or behavioural traits that help to identify them based on their intrinsic characteristics. However, there are a number of issues related to biometric security, in particular with regard to surveillance images. The first issue is related to the poor visibility of the images produced by surveillance cameras and the second issue is concerned with the effective image retrieval based on user query. This research addresses both issues. This research addresses the first issue of low quality of surveillance images by proposing an integrated image enhancement approach for face detection. The proposed approach is based on contrast enhancement and colour balancing methods. The contrast enhancement method is used to improve the contrast, while the colour balancing method helps to achieve a balanced colour. Importantly, in the colour balancing method, a new process for colour cast adjustment is introduced which relies on statistical calculation. It can adjust the colour cast and maintain the luminance of the whole image at the same level. The research addresses the second issue relating to image retrieval by proposing a content-based image retrieval approach. The approach is based on the three welliii known algorithms: colour histogram, texture and moment invariants. Colour histogram is used to extract the colour features of an image. Gabor filter is used to extract the texture features and the moment invariant is used to extract the shape features of an image. The use of these three algorithms ensures that the proposed image retrieval approach produces results which are highly relevant to the content of an image query, by taking into account the three distinct features of the image and the similarity metrics based on Euclidean measure. In order to retrieve the most relevant images the proposed approach also employs a set of fuzzy heuristics to improve the quality of the results further. The integrated image enhancement approach is applied to the enhancement of low quality images produced by surveillance cameras. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated by applying three face detection methods (skin colour based face detection, feature based face detection and image based face detection methods) to surveillance images before and after enhancement using the proposed approach. The results show a significant improvement in face detection when the proposed approach was applied. The performance of the content-based image retrieval approach is carried out using the…

► This study is about peace building in Sierra Leone, during and after the civil war (1991-2002). The initial hypothesis was that the impact of externally…
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▼ This study is about peace building in Sierra Leone, during and after the civil war (1991-2002). The initial hypothesis was that the impact of externally driven peace building activities was reduced because of insufficient attention to local culture and priorities. This hypothesis was underpinned by a number of assumptions based on the author’s personal experience and the views of Sierra Leoneans met in the early post-war period.

► Fertility-building crops (FBCs) offer the opportunity to alleviate the costs of inorganic fertiliser by providing an alternative supply of available nitrogen (N) in soils. A…
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▼ Fertility-building crops (FBCs) offer the opportunity to alleviate the costs of inorganic fertiliser by providing an alternative supply of available nitrogen (N) in soils. A survey of relevant literature reviewed the types of FBCs, their nitrogen accumulation potentials, residue characteristics, and subsequent release patterns. It also identified a paucity of data concerning the response of different species to UK climatic, soil, and management conditions. In order to investigate these relationships further pot and field trials were established in 2007 at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester (SP 00481 01382) and at Coates Manor Farm (SO 98473 00402) on Sherborne series (typical Cotswold) soils, to investigate the biology and morphology of FBCs potentially suitable for short term fertility-building, their accumulation of N under field conditions, and its subsequent recovery within test crops. Data so obtained was used as a verification and refinement tool for the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003), a simple, commercially applicable, rotation-based model which can be applied to both organic and conventional production systems. Nine leguminous and two non-leguminous FBC treatments were established in April 2007 by straight sowing, followed by mulching at the conclusion of the nitrogen accumulation phase and by undersowing in spring barley (Hordeum sativum). The recovery test crops (winter and spring wheat Triticum aestivum L.) were established in September 2007 and March 2008. All FBCs established successfully. Above-ground dry matter (DM) yield and residue quality (C:N ratio) of FBCs varied significantly (P<0.05) between crops and cropping regimes with a significant correlation (r2=0.418) between DM yields and C:N ratios. FBCs and cropping regimes had significant effects (P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively) on potential mineralisable nitrogen (PMN) levels in the soil and on the grain yields of winter and spring wheat test crops. Straight sown Lupinus albus, Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens and a legume mixture resulted in higher winter wheat grain yields. However, the opportunity cost associated with straight sowing (i.e. the gross margin foregone from a spring barley crop) meant that the rotation would probably not be viable economically. Undersown Medicago lupulina, Vicia villosa, T. pratense, T. repens and the legume mixture gave worthwhile yield increases in spring wheat without incurring a yield penalty in the spring barley cover crop. Following enhancement and using actual data from the trials, the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003) provided encouraging predictions (R>0.6) for soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) and key parameters were identified for future use. It was concluded that FBCs established for short term soil fertility building could provide a worthwhile enhancement of soil N levels and grain yields in a conventional arable rotation, particularly in spring wheat following FBCs undersown in spring barley. It was also concluded that the FBC model (Cuttle et al, 2003), following further enhancement, and using…

► The study has defined the position with regard to existing and evolving United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) legislation, world trade agreements and institutions,…
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▼ The study has defined the position with regard to existing and evolving United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) legislation, world trade agreements and institutions, global trade in chicken meat and market Quality Assurance (QA) standards in a series of peer-reviewed published papers and working papers. The development of global food supply chains can be a key driver in the harmonisation of international legislation, product and private assurance standards. Indeed compliance with legislation and retailer requirements has been a key market driver in the development of private assurance standards. The key objectives of the research were to examine current assurance schemes within the integrated poultry meat supply chain and the influence of regulation and external market drivers within the integrated poultry meat supply chain; develop and test a QA model for the poultry meat supply chain with a view to both baseline and higher level standards including the development of a business benchmarking system utilising a pre-requisite programme (PRP) and key performance indicators (KPI); and to assess the ability of the QA model to deliver regulatory and policy compliance whilst meeting varied business and market needs for an internationally traded product. This study has shown that a QA model is capable of providing a framework within which the poultry meat supply chain can operate. The legislative and performance requirements have been translated into quantifiable performance indicators which can be used to measure supply chain performance. This can assist differentiation of products at the point of consumption and give a quantifiable measure of the extrinsic value that has been added. This approach will therefore aid the communication of the benefits of differing methods of poultry meat production and afford the consumer the opportunity to make a more informed choice when purchasing meat products.

► This study is centred on the phenomenon of the child headed household in Rwanda. Such households have become an increasingly common occurrence in Sub-Saharan Africa,…
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▼ This study is centred on the phenomenon of the child headed household in Rwanda. Such households have become an increasingly common occurrence in Sub-Saharan Africa, as a result, in particular, of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This has caused millions of children to become orphaned, and has brought about new coping mechanisms. The case of Rwanda, however, differs from the majority of countries which have experienced the emergence of these households. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that its child headed households are a legacy of two major factors, that of genocide as well as HIV/AIDS. The genocide of 1994 resulted in the death of an estimated 800,000 people, and prompted mass displacement and estrangement of the majority of the population. There has been considerable interest in Rwanda‟s progress following the genocide on the part of academics, NGOs and development practitioners. Whilst some of this has focused on children and the vulnerable, the long term perspective has not been sufficiently considered. This research set out to address this by undertaking a longitudinal study over four years examining the child headed household in Rwanda. A core group of 42 households formed the sample, taken from urban, peri-urban, and rural areas and from a refugee camp. In the first place the study explores the definition of “child headed household” and offers a typology of the phenomenon. Second, it offers an analysis based on field work of the livelihood challenges to the children within these households, including the basic survival needs of land and property inheritance, income generation and education. Finally the psychosocial needs of the child headed households for acceptance and participation within communities were considered. This work considers the challenges to livelihood survival and the non-material needs of those in child headed households in Rwanda within the realities of daily life. It concludes that child headed households need to be redefined in terms of age, composition, and their particular narratives, and their variable composition is an integral characteristic. The livelihood needs of CHHs are particularly challenged by the lack of opportunities for income generation, access to land rights and changes in household life, including revisions in programmes and policies. Furthermore the non-material needs of the children in these households are often unacknowledged; their stories frequently portray a lack of family and community support, marginalisation and isolation, which contests widely held and historic understandings of family and community.

► The current research aimed to identify the main factors that affect students’ performance in web-based courses in a university in Jordan. In order to achieve…
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▼ The current research aimed to identify the main factors that affect students’ performance in web-based courses in a university in Jordan. In order to achieve this goal the current research design employed a mixed methods approach in that it embraced an exploratory approach in the first phase and moved to an explanatory approach in the second phase. The exploratory phase consisted of conducting four group interviews with students enrolled in web-based courses at the Accounting Department at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and one group interview with Accounting instructors. While the explanatory phase employed a quantitative method (questionnaire) to examine the study’s proposed models. Astin’s Input-Environment-Outcomes (I-E-O) guided the current study’s framework to investigate factors that may influence student performance in web-based courses. Input variables were computer experience, student attitude toward web-based learning, self-efficacy, motivation, and prior performance. Environmental variables included student perceptions of the interaction of instructors; use of technology; and participation in the online learning environment. Data was gathered from a survey of 461 undergraduate students enrolled in two web-based accounting courses at the Hashemite University in Jordan. The most important contribution of the current study is that it conducted the analysis in the context of a developing country (Jordan). Therefore, this study will fill the gap in the literature regarding the effect of using web-based learning on student performance in Jordan and will provide the basis for further research in developing countries on student performance in web-based learning. The study also adds to collective knowledge of the effects of e-learning by adding a case study set in a new context to the existing range of studies. In doing so it broadens the scope of research on e-learning effectiveness. The results indicated that the study’s model was valid and fit the data and it was reasonable to test the model in terms of path significance. The study explained 73% of the variance in student performance, but only 3% of the variation in change in performance was explained. The findings of the current research revealed that input variables (particularly prior performance and student attitudes toward web-based learning) were the most significant, direct input factors affecting student performance. In addition, it was found that environmental variables (particularly student participation in web-based courses and student perceptions of the interaction of their instructors) also had a significant direct effect on student performance. These findings underline that it is not the technology used in the learning process that makes a difference in student performance in web-based learning, but it is instructor interactivity and the pedagogy used in teaching the Accounting courses at the Hashemite University. This is not to say that technology is unimportant or that it can be ignored. However, the functionality,…

► Health and safety issues have always been a major problem and concern in the construction industry. Wherever reliable records are available, construction is found to…
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▼ Health and safety issues have always been a major problem and concern in the construction industry. Wherever reliable records are available, construction is found to be one of the most dangerous on health and safety criteria, particularly in developing countries. Efforts have been made to address this problem, but the results have been far from satisfactory, as construction accidents continue to dominate the overall construction industry. Despite the programs implemented by government authorities and measures introduced by companies themselves, the number of construction accidents still remains alarmingly high. In developing countries, safety rules usually do not exist; if they do, the regulatory authority is usually very weak in implementing such rules effectively. The UAE is one of developing countries that are currently enjoying a strong growth in construction activities. Unfortunately, some sectors of its construction industry suffer from poor safety and health conditions. Any framework of the existing occupational and health conditions is fragmented and inadequately enforced, making construction sites more hazardous. It may even be argued that relevant regulations are outdated and irrelevant in day-to-day construction operations. From this perspective this research explores the approved methods adopted in the UK in order to improve the existing code of practice in the UAE and thus introduce the foundations on which appropriate health and safety systems may be built. A framework for Health and Safety management in the UK is suggested. To reach this objective an overview of the published materials as well as the legislation has been undertaken. Questionnaires were designed and distributed to potential construction industry players and interview sessions have been conducted to meet the first objective of the project which to determine the health and safety measures currently applied on construction sites. In addition, structured interviews were carried out with selected managers from a selection of construction and oil companies, medium and large size. This thesis specifically, it investigates the safety perceptions, attitudes, and behaviour of construction workers and management safety practices. Based upon the analysis of the results, this study has demonstrated that the majority of those questioned UAE construction companies have a poor degree of risk awareness and do not seems to take health and safety as an important issue.

Water heating contributes an important proportion of residential heating consumption all around the world. Internationally, domestic potable water heating contributes between 15% and 40% of energy consumption within residential dwelling, electricity and natural gas are the major fuels reported in use for domestic water heating.

▼ Rapid restoration of blood flow to ischemic myocardium is essential, however it causes further injury called reperfusion injury. Apoptosis contributes significantly to cardiomyocyte cell death during ischemia reperfusion injury, in which caspase family proteases play an essential role as they are the executioners of apoptosis. Caspase inhibitors showed promising cardioprotective results when administered before ischemia or at the start of reperfusion. However, before applying them in pre clinical studies of myocardial ischemia, several investigations needed to be taken to determine their therapeutic window post reperfusion, their effect on functional recovery of myocardium post ischemia, their mechanism of action. Methods Isolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to 35 min ischemia followed by 2 hr reperfusion where caspase inhibitors [broad spectrum caspase inhibitor (ZVAD, 0.1µM), specific caspase 3 inhibitor (DEVD, 0.07µM)] were added at the start of reperfusion, 15, 30 and 60 min after starting reperfusion at the presence or absence of Wortmannin (WORT, 100nM, PI3-kinase inhibitor). Hearts underwent triphenyl tetrazolium staining for infarct size assessment, or were frozen for Western blot analysis. Freshly isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes were subjected to 6 hr hypoxia followed by either 18 hr, where caspase inhibitors (ZVAD, 25µM and DEVD, 25µM) were added at the start of reoxygenation, 15, 30 and 60 min after starting reoxygenation at the presence or absence of Wortmannin (WORT, 100nM). Cardiomyocytes were analysed for viability, apoptosis, necrosis and intracellular caspase-3 activity using flow cytometry analysis. Isolated adult rat ventricular papillary muscles were subjected to 35 min hypoxia followed by 100 min reperfusion where caspase inhibitors [ZVAD (0.1 µM, 2.5µM) and DEVD (2.5µM)] were added at the start of reperfusion throughout. Power output was measured using work loop technique.

► Self-management interventions enhance the health self-management techniques and physical and psychological health outcomes among people with long-term health conditions (LTHCs). Few individuals from South Asian…
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▼ Self-management interventions enhance the health self-management techniques and physical and psychological health outcomes among people with long-term health conditions (LTHCs). Few individuals from South Asian backgrounds attended the pilot phase of one such intervention: the Expert Patients Programme (EPP), a community-based self-management course. This raised concerns about exacerbating health inequalities. South Asian people have increased prevalence and severity of certain musculoskeletal conditions, yet little is known about their experiences of living with and self-managing these. This research aimed to rectify these omissions, by describing Punjabi Sikh women's experiences of living with and self-managing arthritis, and identifying barriers and facilitators to EPP. Three studies explored White and Punjabi Sikh EPP tutors‟ experiences of delivering EPP to South Asian attendees, and Punjabi Sikh women's experiences of living with and self-managing arthritis, both before and after they attended a Punjabi-language EPP. White and Punjabi Sikh tutors' sometimes dichotomous experiences of delivering EPP to South Asians, captured barriers to South Asian people's attendance, engagement and self-management. Facilitators identified included the need for sensitive tailoring of the Course, involving the Punjabi Sikh community. The Punjabi Sikh women's vibrant experiential accounts revealed the detrimental psychological and physical consequences that arthritis had upon their lives. Highly versatile in their proactive arthritis self-management prior to attending EPP, participants' refined techniques encompassed combinations of medication and Indian remedies, empowered by their religious and spiritual values. Following EPP attendance, the participants reported psychological and physical improvements in their arthritis. Thus, this Study established Punjabi Sikh 4 Abstract women's inherent acceptance of the concept of self-management, and, notwithstanding its current limitations, the likely appropriateness of EPP. Every Study represents a novel contribution to knowledge. Meaningful engagement with Punjabi Sikh community-members may produce a culturally-competent intervention that could better improve this group's physical and psychological outcomes, thus addressing one small area of health inequalities.

► The huge natural energy resources available in the world’s oceans are attracting increasing commercial and political interest. In order to evaluate the status and the…
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▼ The huge natural energy resources available in the world’s oceans are attracting increasing commercial and political interest. In order to evaluate the status and the degree of acceptability of future Ocean Energy (OE) schemes, it was considered important to develop an Integrated Assessment Methodology (IAM) for ascertaining the relative merits of the competing OE devices being proposed. Initial studies included the gathering of information on the present status of development of the ocean energy systems on wave, OTEC and tidal schemes with the challenges faced for their commercial application. In order to develop the IAM, studies were undertaken for the development and standardization of the assessment tools focussing on: • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on emission characteristics. • Energy Accounting (EA) studies. • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) over different environmental issues. • Resource captures aspects. • Defining economy evaluation indices. The IAM developed from such studies comprised of four interrelated well defined tasks and six assessment tools. The tasks included the identification of the modus operandi on data collection to be followed (from industry) for assessing respective OE devices, and also advancing relevant guidelines as to the safety standards to be followed, for their deployment at suitable sites. The IAM as developed and validated from case studies in ascertaining relative merits of competing OE devices included: suitable site selection aspects with scope for resource utilisation capability, safety factors for survivability, scope for addressing global warming & energy accounting, the environmental impact assessment both qualitatively and quantitatively on different environmental issues, and the economic benefits achievable. Some of the new ideas and concepts which were also discovered during the development of the IAM, and considered useful to both industry and researchers are given below: • Relative Product Cost (RPC) ratio concept- introduced in making an economic evaluation. This is considered helpful in sensitivity analysis and making design improvements (hybridising etc) for the cost reduction of OE devices. This index thus helps in making feasibility studies on R&D efforts, where the capital cost requirement data and life span of the device is not well defined in the primary stages of development. • Determination of the threshold limit value of the barrage constant - considered useful in determining the efficacy of the planning process. The concept ascertained the relative efficiency achieved for various barrage proposals globally. It could also be applied to suggest the revisions required for certain barrage proposals and also found useful in predicting the basin area of undefined barrage proposal for achieving economic viability. • Estimations made on the future possibility of revenue earnings from the by-products of various OTEC types, including the scope of chemical hubs from grazing type OTEC plants. • Determination of breakeven point- on cost versus life span of wave and…

► This thesis describes an investigation into the spatial species conversion profiles of a Cu-zeolite SCR under engine conditions at low exhaust gas temperatures; this was…
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▼ This thesis describes an investigation into the spatial species conversion profiles of a Cu-zeolite SCR under engine conditions at low exhaust gas temperatures; this was then compared with a CFD model that models the catalyst via a porous medium measuring 5 x 5 x 91 cells assuming a uniform cross-sectional flow distribution. Species conversion rates were sampled at fixed points in the axial direction. The analysis of the spatial conversion profiles is a more rigorous method in assessing the ability of a mathematical model to predict the experimental data. It can also assist in the optimisation of the catalyst size, minimising packaging requirements and manufacturing costs. The experiments were undertaken on a light-duty diesel engine at a speed of 1500rpm, and at a load of 6bar BMEP; this provided exhaust gas temeraqtures between 200 and 220°C. NO2:NOx ratios were controlled by changing the size and position of the diesel oxidation catalyst, the inlet NH3: NOx ratio was also also varied, ammonia gas was used instead of urea for the purposes of simlicity. The advantage of testing on an actual engine over lab-babed studies is that the conditions such as exhaust gas composition are more realistic. A 1D CFD model was constructed using the ‘porous medium approach’ with kinetics obtained from open literature. Results from the simulations were then compared with the experimental data for the same engine conditions. It was observed that the majority of the NOx conversion took place in the first half of the brick for all NH3: NOx ratios investigated, and that the formation of N2O via NO2 and ammonia had the same influence as the ‘fast’ SCR reaction just after the inlet, which the CFD model failed to predict for the base case analyses. The influence of the inlet ammonia on the model was also noticed to be greater than in the experiments. Simple transient analyses were also undertaken on the short SCR bricks for NO2: NOx ratios of 0.6 and 0.07, and it was observed that the response time to steady-state was noticeably higher in the experiments than in the model. Modifications made to the model, including decreasing the influence of the ‘fast’ SCR reaction, and the addition of an empirical term onto the ammonia adsorption provided a noticeably better agreement for different NH3: NOx injection ratios. The desorption kinetics in the model were also altered by increasing the strength of the bonding of the ammonia onto the adsorption sites. This improved the transient agreement between the model and the experiments, but reduced the steady-state concentrations at the exit of the brick for all NH3:NOx ratios investigated.

► The aims of this thesis are to investigate the factors influencing treatment fidelity of health behaviour change (HBC) interventions. The thesis will focus on HBC…
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▼ The aims of this thesis are to investigate the factors influencing treatment fidelity of health behaviour change (HBC) interventions. The thesis will focus on HBC interventions delivered by practice nurses (PNs) and health care assistants (HCAs) to patients within general practice, although the findings will be explored within the context of the wider treatment fidelity literature. The thesis comprises five studies, focussed on exploring, enhancing and assessing fidelity of delivery and receipt of HBC interventions. Through developing an enhanced understanding of these areas of treatment fidelity, the thesis will also make recommendations for strategies to enhance and assess fidelity of delivery and receipt of future HBC interventions. Study one is a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies that explored the views and experiences of nurses who had delivered HBC interventions with a focus on how this can inform future delivery of HBC interventions. Study two is an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of PNs’/HCAs’ experiences of helping patients to change their health behaviours within the context of their routine care, and before and after delivery of an intervention to facilitate increased walking. Study three reports a quantitative assessment of delivery of intervention techniques to facilitate increased walking, as specified in an intervention protocol, by PNs/HCAs. Study four explores PNs’/HCAs’ views and experiences of the factors that influenced their delivery of the walking intervention. Study five investigates treatment receipt, by exploring patients’ understanding of, and experiences of receiving the walking intervention. The key findings from this research are that delivery and receipt of HBC interventions within general practice are influenced by a range of factors that include the providers’ confidence and skills, the patients’ expectations and/or engagement with the intervention and the general practice within which the intervention is delivered. A number of these factors are difficult to influence and so research teams need to develop a range of strategies to enhance delivery and receipt of HBC interventions. These may include appropriate preparation for providers to deliver the intervention, the provision of a simple intervention resource to support delivery of the intervention and the development of strategies to enhance patients’ understanding of intervention techniques.